Receptacle-closure.



D. BLOOM.

RECEPTACLE CLOSURE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 28. 1917.

IN V EN TOR. fiAV/D 52, 00M

HIS A TTORNE Y6 lib DAVID BLOOM, 01E BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA.

BECEPTACLE-CLOSURE.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 22, 1211?.

Application filed April 28, 1917. Serial Ito. 165,139.

To all whom it may concern:

ent element engaging the closure and the receptacle.

An object of the invention is to simplify and cheapen the cost of manufacture of such form of closure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a resilient element provided integrally with means for holding it horizontal and with means for varying its flexure.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for raising the closure with respect to the receptacle to release the vacuum within a hermetically sealed receptacle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a closure which may be quickly and thoroughly cleaned, whereby it may be kept in a sanitary condition.

The invention possesses other advantageous features, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth at length in the following description where I shall outline in full that form of the invention which I have selected for illustration in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. In said drawings I have shown one specific form of my invention, but it is to be understood that the invention as expressed in the claims may be embodied in a plurality of forms.

Referring to said drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical section of the upper portion of a receptacle, showing the closure of my invention seated thereon and the means for lifting the closure.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section taken on the line 22, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the receptacle and closure showing a modified form of closure.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the neck of the receptacle taken at right angles to Fi l.

Fig. 5 is a top or plan view of a portion of the closure, showing the closure-raising means.

The closure of my invention is particularly adaptable for use in sealing or hermetically sealing large-mouth receptacles, either of sheet metal such as milk cans, and large preserving or processing cans, or of glass or earthenware, such as crocks, jars and similar containers.

The receptacle 2 is provided with a neck 3 which terminates at its upper end in a flange or bead 4: which is preferably circumferentially ribbed or grooved on its upper surface to grip the sealing gasket 5. The neck 3 is provided on its interior surface withl' two or more circumferentially disposed, preferably rather short, protuberances, or ridges 6'between which and the circumferential shoulder 10, the ends of the resilient element seat.

The closure 7 is preferably somewhat dome-shaped and is provided on its periphery with a flange 8'which is provided on its under surface with a seat for the gasket 5. The inner wall of the gasket seat comprises a depending flange 9 which seats within the neck of the receptacle. Projecting outwardly from the flange 8 are a plurality of spaced ears 12 of greater thickness than the flange, the inner surfaces of which hold the gasket in place and prevent it from being blown outward by pressure within the receptacle. The ears are provided with apertures 13 and on the receptacle flange 4: is an car 14 having a plurality of apertures 15, one of which, when the closure is in place, registers with an aperture 13 in one of the ears 12. A seal 16 inserted through the registered apertures prevents opening the receptacle without detection or accidentally. The ears 12 also provide a grip for turning the closure.

The closure is provided at the center with a depending rod or bar 17 upon which the resilient element is guided. The resilient element comprises a flat spring 18, the ends of which engage under the projections 6 on the receptacle neck. At its center, the spring is Provided with a hole through which the rod 17 passes and adjacent the hole a plurality of ears 19 are struck up from the metal of the spring, so that they stand practically perpendicular. The inner edges of the ears are perpendicular and lie adjacent the rod 17 and serve as supports to hold the sprin horizontal. A shoulder 21 on the rod 1 forms a stop, when engaged by the ears, to further upward movement of the spring.

At the center, the spring is provided with integral downwardly-projecting cars 22, formed concentrically with the rod 17 and disposed diametrically with respect thereto. The lower or under edges of the ears22 are inclined to the horizontal in the same direction circumferentially and are provided on their lower edges with stops 23. Secured to the rod 17 and preferably passing diametrically through the rod, below the spring, is a cross bar 24, upon which the inclined surfaces rest. Rotation of the closure with respect to the receptacle, causes the cross bar 24 to ride under the inclined edges of the cars 22 and thereby raise and lower the center of the spring, whereby its flexure and consequently the pressure of the closure on the receptacle, is varied.

The lower end of the rod 17 is preferably tapped and may be closed by the screw 25. When desired, however, the screw may be removed and the shank 26 of the stopple 27 screwed into place. The stopple closes the neck at its lower end and forms a smooth continuation of the breast of the receptacle, thereby preventing any material splashing of the contentsof the filled receptacle. This feature is particularly advantageous in connection with large milk cans.

When a vacuum exists within the sealed receptacle, it is often difiicult to remove the closure, owing to the pressure on the closure, and'in such circumstances it is advisable to release the vacuum. -This I accomplish by raising one side of the closure. For this purpose I provide a tool comprising the lever 28, having at one end a pin or projection 29 adapted to seat in one of the holes 15 in the ear 14, thereby furnishing a fulcrum. The lever is provided with a bent-- over-lip 30, spaced above the lever, which is provided with an inclined face 31, which enters between the ear 14 and the ear 12. By pressing inward on the lever, the inclined surface is forced between the two ears, raising the closure and releasing the vacuum, so that the receptacle may then be readily opened. The ears are spaced apart vertically a short distance so that the lip 29 may be readily inserted between them.

I claim:

1. A closure for receptacles, comprising a cover, a rod depending from the cover, a cross bar in said rod, a flat spring surrounding said rod and supported by said cross bar and inclined ears on said spring engaging said bar.

2. A closure for receptacles, comprising a cover, a rod depending from said cover, a cross bar in said rod and a flat spring rotatably mounted on said rod and provided at the center with integral downwardly extending ears having inclined lower edges bearing against the cross bar. v

3. A closure for receptacles, comprising a cover, a rod depending from the cover,aflat spring rotatably mounted on said rod and a plurality of ears struck from said spring and contacting with said rod and adapted to hold the spring at right angles to the rod.

4. A closure for receptacles, comprising a cover, a rod depending from the cover, a

flat spring rotatably mounted on said rod, means on the spring for holding it at right angles to the rod, ears of gradually increasing depth formed integrally with said spring at the center and a cross bar in said rod engaging said inclined ears.

A closure for receptacles, comprising a cover, a rod depending from the cover, a cross bar in said rod, a flat spring rotatable on said rod, inclined ears on the spring engaging said bar and a stopple secured to the lower end of said rod.

6. The combination with a receptacle having an apertured laterallv extending ear at its mouth, of a closure having an ear adapted to overlie said first-mentioned ear and a lever having a projection adapted to seat in said aperture and an inclined surface adapted to be inserted between said ears.

7 The combination with a receptacle having an apertured flange, of a closure having a flange arranged above said receptacle flange, a lever fulcrumed in the apertured flange and an inclined face on the lever arranged to be inserted between said flanges.

8. The combination with a receptacle having an apertured flange, of a closure having a flange overlying said receptacle flange, a lever provided with a projection adapted to seat in said aperture, an ear formed integral with and overlying the lever and an inclined lip on the ear adapted to be inserted between said flanges.

In testimony whereof,I have hereunto set my hand at San Francisco, California, this 1 21st day of April, 1917.

DAVID BLOOM.

In presence of H. G. Pnos'r. 

